I remember hearing about them like 6 years ago, about how they were one of the bands bringing about a resurgence of southern rock. I picked up their album, and thought it was OK, but the singer's voice annoyed me, so I pretty much stopped listening to them and went to Drive By Truckers for my "new southern rock" fix. God, how the mediocre have fallen. What do you get when you take a so-so band and give them the corporate Top 40/MTV treatment? Apparently this pile of douchebaggery and hair product.

Man there's a lot of hate for Kings of Leon. It's not like they're the first band to dress up in the "rock chique" style for their era. I can think of more bands that have done it than haven't. I still ike the Beatles even though they dressed funny. The same goes for pretty much every band I've liked from the mid 60's to present.

I've observed that they're also one of those bands that people liked until they started playing them on the radio. Even a year or two ago with the same albums out you could play one of their songs for a random, music loving person and they'd probably say "Yeah, that's kind of cool." Now the average response seems to be, "Is that Kings of Leon? They suck."

garublador wrote:Man there's a lot of hate for Kings of Leon. It's not like they're the first band to dress up in the "rock chique" style for their era. I can think of more bands that have done it than haven't. I still ike the Beatles even though they dressed funny. The same goes for pretty much every band I've liked from the mid 60's to present.

I've observed that they're also one of those bands that people liked until they started playing them on the radio. Even a year or two ago with the same albums out you could play one of their songs for a random, music loving person and they'd probably say "Yeah, that's kind of cool." Now the average response seems to be, "Is that Kings of Leon? They suck."

I think their music goes along with their look. It seems they should be played on the ending of the Hills or a similar show. IMO, the Beatles appeared to be less "corporate" and more about making good music and happened to play off of a certain style of clothing.

garublador wrote:I've observed that they're also one of those bands that people liked until they started playing them on the radio. Even a year or two ago with the same albums out you could play one of their songs for a random, music loving person and they'd probably say "Yeah, that's kind of cool." Now the average response seems to be, "Is that Kings of Leon? They suck."

I've noticed that most of those bands deserve it. They used to have a few songs that weren't bad. I remember "McFearless" coming on my Pandora station and I gave it the thumbs up because it wasn't bad. It has a nice push-pull feel to it.

But they're radio singles are shitty enough to completely throw most people who like good music off the band.

Consider that bands have successfully made the jump from being an underground favorite to radio success. I think Modest Mouse is a good example. "Float On" is clearly a pop song, but its also a damn good one. They have maintained most of their old audience while also gaining a huge fan base. "Be Somebody" is just whiney bullshit as far as I can tell, and colors Kings of Leon's whole work in a bad light.